William Shakespeare: The Tempest

ACT 3 2. SCENE II. Another part of the island (continued)

CALIBAN.
What a pied ninny's this! Thou scurvy patch!--
I do beseech thy greatness, give him blows,
And take his bottle from him: when that's gone
He shall drink nought but brine; for I'll not show him
Where the quick freshes are.

STEPHANO.
Trinculo, run into no further danger: interrupt the
monster one word further and, by this hand, I'll turn
my mercy out o' doors, and make a stock-fish of thee.

TRINCULO.
Why, what did I? I did nothing. I'll go farther off.

STEPHANO.
Didst thou not say he lied?

ARIEL.
Thou liest.

STEPHANO.
Do I so? Take thou that. [Strikes TRINCULO.] As you
like this, give me the lie another time.

TRINCULO.
I did not give the lie:--out o' your wits and
hearing too?--A pox o' your bottle! this can sack and
drinking do.--A murrain on your monster, and the devil
take your fingers!

CALIBAN.
Ha, ha, ha!

STEPHANO.
Now, forward with your tale.--Prithee stand
further off.

CALIBAN.
Beat him enough: after a little time, I'll beat
him too.

STEPHANO.
Stand farther.--Come, proceed.

CALIBAN.
Why, as I told thee, 'tis a custom with him
I' th' afternoon to sleep: there thou may'st brain him,
Having first seiz'd his books; or with a log
Batter his skull, or paunch him with a stake,
Or cut his wezand with thy knife. Remember
First to possess his books; for without them
He's but a sot, as I am, nor hath not
One spirit to command: they all do hate him
As rootedly as I. Burn but his books;
He has brave utensils,--for so he calls them,--
Which, when he has a house, he'll deck withal:
And that most deeply to consider is
The beauty of his daughter; he himself
Calls her a nonpareil: I never saw a woman
But only Sycorax my dam and she;
But she as far surpasseth Sycorax
As great'st does least.